WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today applauded the announcement by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal that the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce Division helped create a total of 27,373 new jobs in Georgia in fiscal year 2018, generating $5.56 billion in total investments in the state. This growth is the result of a record-breaking 419 expansion or relocation projects throughout Georgia.

“Overseas and foreign investments in our state have played a key role in creating quality growth and quality jobs for hardworking Georgians, and that’s precisely why I’m committed to ensuring a level playing field on trade and to working against tariffs and trade barriers that could hurt our state’s positive momentum,” said Isakson. “From advocating for more competitive trade policies to supporting our ports, and from education and workforce training to lowering taxes and cutting regulations, the federal government’s policy moves should be a catalyst rather than a barrier to these investments that make a big difference to our economy and Georgians’ pocketbooks,” Isakson continued.

According to today’s announcement by the state of Georgia, in fiscal year 2018, “89 international projects (Foreign Direct Investment) created more than 6,800 jobs and generated more than $1.9 billion in investments in Georgia. European companies included 49 locations, created 3,831 jobs and generated $837 million in investments. Companies from the United Kingdom, France and Germany led European companies in job creation. Companies based in Asian countries included 24 locations, created 1,822 jobs and generated $489 million in investments. Korean and Japanese companies provided the largest investments among Asian companies.”

Isakson, a member of both the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, has been actively engaged in trade issues that have been at the forefront of negotiations between the United States and a number of countries.

This week, Isakson cosponsored the Automotive Jobs Act of 2018 to prevent the U.S. Department of Commerce from unilaterally imposing tariffs on imported cars, trucks and auto parts. In Georgia, the automotive industry has seen tremendous growth since 1999, and it now represents $2.8 billion in gross state product.

Isakson is also a cosponsor of S.3013, introduced by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., that would require Congressional approval of tariffs imposed on “national security” grounds under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. This legislation would allow Congress to vote on whether to move forward with President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from U.S. allies such as Canada and the European Union, as well as his threatened tariffs on imported automobiles and auto parts. The Senate overwhelmingly supported Congressional oversight of Section 232 tariffs in a vote earlier this summer.

In a June Senate Finance hearing, Isakson questioned Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross about Section 232 tariffs and encouraged a balanced trade policy. Isakson also questioned Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a Senate Foreign Relations hearing on July 25 on the effect of tariffs on our national security strategy and urged the entire administration to work strategically together to achieve a zero tariff trade policy that does not harm American workers or consumers.

Isakson has sent a number of letters to Secretary Ross in support of the U.S. steel industry and U.S. manufacturers, arguing that import restrictions would negatively affect the industry and its employees.

In June 2017, Isakson wrote to Secretary Wilbur Ross and Secretary of Defense James Mattis highlighting the need to protect consumers and Georgia jobs by tailoring an ongoing investigation into aluminum trade practices so that it does not unfairly target products that are not a threat to national security.

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